Sheetrit: World is hypocritical on Gaza

The international community and world media have proven themselves to be "hypocritical" by condemning Operation Protective Edge in the Gaza Strip, Hatnua faction chairman Meir Sheetrit said Monday.

Sheetrit, who was nearly elected president last month, told his faction, that the IDF was doing everything possible to minimize civilian deaths on both sides of the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip and could be proud of its success.

"There have been thousands killed by American and other armies in Afghanistan and Kosovo," Sheetrit said. "There were 260 killed yesterday in Syria and dozens in Libya and Iraq. No one tweets, no one cares. We have nothing to apologize for."

Sheetrit spoke on a day when all other faction meetings were either canceled or closed to the press, due to cabinet meetings and visits by MKs to hospitals and bereaved families.

He said the Knesset would continue to minimize its parliamentary work, because MKs needed to be focusing on supporting the ongoing operation in the Gaza Strip.